Manitoba's Minister of Agriculture is hopeful Canada's participation in the new Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership will provide the confidence necessary to stimulate new investment in the province's pork sector.

The 11 nations involved the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership are scheduled to formally sign the free trade agreement next month.

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler told those on hand yesterday in Winnipeg for the 2018 Manitoba Swine Seminar he sees this as a huge opportunity.

Ralph Eichler-Minister of Agriculture Manitoba:

When ever we have opportunity for new markets being ready is a key factor.

I see the swine business in particular being a good business for investments.

We have several things going in our advantage because Manitoba is ready as far as legislation, as far as markets, as far as capacity is concerned, not only from HyLife but Maple Leaf and other smaller niche processors are able to capture on some of those initiatives.

We're hoping that producers and those that are waiting to invest take advantage of that opportunity.

We've cleared the way as far as legislation is concerned for some building codes that was not necessary for our producers.